Chelsea's Strength in Depth Is Key Reason for Strong First Half of Season

As far as first halves of a season go, Chelsea's has been near enough perfect so far in 2014/15.

A recent defeat to Newcastle United aside, the Blues have blitzed the opposition on all fronts, and they still remain on course for a potential quadruple this season.

Top of the Premier League and looking hot favorites for the title is only one half of the story; Jose Mourinho's men also look good value for a tilt at the Champions League, too. Paris Saint-Germain will provide stiff opposition but a weaker Chelsea outfit sent the Parisians crashing out of the competition last year, so they should be strong enough this season, too.

While there have been many reasons for Chelsea's success (the signing of Diego Costa being lauded as perhaps the biggest), it's an all-round squad game in football, and Chelsea are proving that this year.

The forthcoming Capital One Cup tie against Derby County will be another chance for Mourinho to flex his squad depth and show exactly what lies beneath the surface of his elite XI at Stamford Bridge.

And in truth, it's that squad depth that has so far seen Chelsea remain head of the pack midway through the season.

It's not so much the fact that Mourinho has had to rotate his squad massively due to injuries or suspension, but it's more the fact that the depth is there, which keeps everyone on their toes.

Take the goalkeeping position, for example. Thibaut Courtois has been in sensational form this year, but he's got one of the best keepers of the last decade fighting him for a spot in the team each and every week.

Although Petr Cech is very much second choice this season, he's still a fine back-up, and someone who will create that much-discussed competition for places.

Three full-backs vying for just two spots is also another such example of competition for places, with Filipe Luis proving to be a fine acquisition for the Blues so far this season. He, Branislav Ivanovic and the exceptional Cesar Azpilicueta are about as good a trio of full-backs as you could find at any one club.

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The Derby tie will no doubt see Kurt Zouma given another chance to impress, too. Whilst he's perhaps not the strongest case of competition for places, Zouma is a talent, and he is very much one for the future when John Terry decides to hang up his boots.

It's midfield where Mourinho has perhaps the biggest example of squad depth, though. Chelsea were without the aforementioned Fabregas for the game against Hull last weekend, which may have been a cause for concern to some Blues fans.

After all, Fabregas has made the most assists in the Premier League this season, and he is already a hot favorite for Player of the Year. Yet without the Spaniard, John Obi Mikel was given a chance to impress, and he certainly didn't disappoint.

Even Ramires came on towards the end of that match, and given how much of a mainstay he was in the side last year, it's another sign of the talent Mourinho possesses.

And then you get to the strikers; Mourinho's true Achilles' heel in 2013/14. The re-signing of Didier Drogba has been a masterstroke, and Loic Remy has also shown glimpses of what he can do, too. They both provide incredible back-up for Diego Costa, who managed to snap his mini-drought at the weekend against Hull.

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A glance at Mourinho's bench for that Hull game illustrates the depth perfectly. Remy, Drogba, Ramires, Azpilicueta and even Andre Schurrle was on there.

Should Chelsea get injuries, as they have with Fabregas, the strength in depth is there for Chelsea to survive. Sure, Manchester City and Manchester United appear to have good resources, too, but Chelsea's strength is in the size of their squad.

As well as that, it's also the quality of that depth. Chelsea fans may worry if an injury strikes to a key player, but with the talent pool Mourinho has at his disposal, it's another key factor in why Chelsea will be odds on to lift the Premier League trophy come May.